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…move seek to curb quackery, establish professional council and strengthen fight against malnutrition

By Gloria Ikibah

The House of Representatives has commenced consideration of a bill seeking to regulate the practice of nutrition in Nigeria through the establishment of the Nutritionists Registration Council of Nigeria, in a move aimed at tackling quackery and strengthening the country’s response to malnutrition and food insecurity.

Leading debate on the bill on Thursday at plenary, sponsor, Rep. Chike Okafor, who is the Chairman House Committee on Nutrition and Food Security, said the proposed legislation had become imperative in view of worsening nutrition indicators and the absence of a legal framework governing the profession.

Describing the measure as overdue, Okafor said the bill was “a necessary legislative response to a ticking time bomb of malnutrition and food insecurity” confronting the country.

According to him, the proposed council will regulate, control and standardise the practice of nutrition while protecting Nigerians from unqualified practitioners.

He noted that the title “Nutritionist” currently enjoys no legal protection in Nigeria, creating room for impostors and weakening professional standards.

“The Bill is the necessary legislative response to close that gap, protecting the public from unqualified practitioners. By regulating the nutrition profession, we ensure the public can distinguish between a clinically trained dietitian for disease management and a nutritionist focused on general nutrition value chains and the wellness of Nigerians,” Okafor said.

The lawmaker dismissed suggestions that the proposed legislation will conflict with the Dietitians Council Bill, explaining that both professions perform different but complementary roles within the healthcare system.

According to him, dietitians provide clinical nutrition services for patients suffering from diet-related illnesses such as diabetes and kidney disease, while nutritionists focus on community and public health nutrition, maternal and child nutrition, policy development, research and programme implementation.

Rep. Okafor expressed concern over the country’s rising burden of malnutrition, citing findings from the 2023/2024 National Demographic Health Survey, which he said revealed increasing levels of child malnutrition, stunting and maternal anaemia.

He observed that despite billions of naira invested in nutrition interventions, including the 232-million-dollar Accelerating Nutrition Results in Nigeria (ANRiN) programme, the expected improvements have yet to materialise.

According to him, “there is an obvious disconnect between accountability, resource allocation and successful policy implementation,” a situation he attributed to the lack of a regulatory framework for the nutrition profession.

He explained that the proposed legislation will establish a public register for nutritionists and nutrition assistants, prescribe minimum educational and professional standards, provide for registration and licensing, and create disciplinary procedures for investigating and sanctioning professional misconduct.

Okafor added that the proposed council will work closely with federal and state health authorities, the National Universities Commission and international development partners to promote nutrition education and sustainable food systems across the country.

He also assured lawmakers that the council will be financially self-sustaining, operating in the same manner as other professional regulatory bodies.

The lawmaker argued that proper regulation will ensure qualified nutritionists are deployed across hospitals, primary healthcare centres, schools and correctional facilities, while promoting evidence-based nutrition practice nationwide.

Describing the proposal as crucial to improving public health, Okafor urged members of the House to support the bill.

“This Bill is a necessary instrument to professionalise the nutrition workforce, protect public health and ensure accountability and value for the massive investments in nutrition. It is about safeguarding our future by ensuring our people have access to the best possible advice on what to eat for optimum health,” he said.

If passed into law, the bill will establish the Nutritionists Registration Council of Nigeria to regulate the registration, licensing, professional development and practice of nutritionists across the country.

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Iran’s foreign ministry slammed US strikes against the country on Thursday, which it said targeted civilian infrastructure including railway bridges, as a “gross war crime”.

The ministry in a statement said it “condemns in the strongest terms the aggressive attacks by the US terrorist army on several points in the southern coastal provinces and two bridges in the eastern provinces on the railway route to the holy city of Mashhad” and called the US administration “evil and psychopathic”.

AFP

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The United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has released the names and photographs of 124 Nigerian nationals identified for deportation as part of its intensified immigration enforcement campaign targeting non-citizens convicted of criminal offences.

The list, published under the DHS’ “Worst of the Worst” register, identifies Nigerians among hundreds of foreign nationals facing removal from the United States following convictions for various crimes. However, the agency did not specify the exact dates when the deportations would take place.

According to U.S. authorities, the affected individuals were convicted of offences including wire fraud, identity theft, money laundering, mail fraud, forgery, drug-related crimes, violent offences and other serious criminal violations. The publication forms part of the Trump administration’s ongoing crackdown on criminal non-citizens.
Among the identities published by DHS are:
Sunday Adediora
Sunday Kunkushi
Mkpouto Etukudoh
Marcus Unigwe
Olaniyi Ojikutu
Boluwaji Akingunsoye
Ejike Asiegbunam
Emmanuel Mayegun Adeola
Bamidele Bolatiwa
Ifeanyi Nwaozomudoh
Aderemi Akefe
Solomon Wilfred
Chibundu Anuebunwa
Joshua Ineh
Usman Momoh
Oluwole Odunowo
Bolarinwa Salau
Oriyomi Aloba
Oludayo Adeagbo
Olaniyi Akintuyi
Talatu Dada
Olatunde Oladinni
Jelili Qudus
Abayomi Daramola
Toluwani Adebakin
Olamide Jolayemi
Isaiah Okere
Benji Macaulay
Joseph Ogbara
Olusegun Martins
Kingsley Ariegwe
Olugbenga Abass
Oyewole Balogun
Adeyinka Ademokunla
Christian Ogunghide
Christopher Ojuma
Olamide Adedipe
Patrick Onogwu
Olajide Olateru-Olagbegi
Omotayo Akinto
Kenneth Unanka
Jeremiah Ehis
Oluwafemi Orimolade
Ayibatonye Bienzigha
Uche Diuno
Akinwale Adaramaja
Boluwatife Afolabi
Chinonso Ochie
Olayinka A. Jones
Theophilus Anwana
Aishatu Umaru
Henry Idiagbonya
Okechukwu Okoronkwo
Daro Kosin
Sakiru Ambali
Kamaludeen Giwa
Cyril Odogwu
Ifeanyi Echigeme
Kingsley Ibhadore
Suraj Tairu
Peter Equere
Dasola Abdulraheem
Adewale Aladekoba
Akeem Adeleke
Bernard Ogie Oretekor
Abiemwense Obanor
Olufemi Olufisayo Olutiola
Chukwuemeka Okorie
Abimbola Esan
Elizabeth Miller
Chima Orji
Adetunji Olofinlade
Abdul Akinsanya
Elizabeth Adeshewo
Dennis Ofuoma
Quazeem Adeyinka
Ifeanyi Okoro
Oluwaseun Kassim
Olumide Bankole Morakinyo
Abraham Ola Osoko
Oluchi Jennifer (Oluchi Jennifer Chimdimma Chime)
Chibuzo Nwaonu.

The complete register contains 124 names and photographs, which have been published by the DHS. U.S. officials said the list is intended to identify foreign nationals considered priorities for deportation because of their criminal records.

The development makes Nigeria the West African country with the highest number of citizens currently listed for deportation under the latest DHS update. Liberia follows with 94 nationals, while Ghana has 32.